Buying a welder

IMO, flux core isnt worth much, youd be better off finding a mig with gas. a hobart 125 would be a great starting welder for ya, for around 400
 
Nothing wrong with fluxcore (besides the cleanup) IMO, but I would be very skeptical about that machine.. You need amps to melt thicker metal.
 
IMO, you'll never "learn" to weld with that machine. if you spend the money, just get something you'll have for every type of use you need. I would think at least a 130 amp machine. I think thats the largest 110V machine? its easy to use and not very expensive. if you plan to fab bumper/roll cage/etc. go with a 220V 175 amp or so.

Rob
 
I always throw the same "thought" in here for these welder posts.

1st, are you planning on doing LOTS of welding at the house...or is this for the occasional job on the 4x4?

If the answer is YES, LOTS...then get a good MIG welder, lots of good advice on this with 110 vs 220 welders.

If the answer is only welding every once in a while...then consider spending in the high $300s and get a READYWELDER. You can use it at home for your projects AND carry it with you on the trail for a trail fix!

FYI, pulled out my RW (ReadyWelder) up in WV 2 weeks ago on the trail to fix my yoke/cap issue, essentially welding the ujoint cap to the yoke/making a tab to replace the one that was missing. Worked well enough that THAT cap didn't spit out the next day (but the other side did...)

So...if you are going to be an occasional welder, think about spending the "same" amount of cash as a decent MIG unit and have something for the trail AND the house!

Sam...RWpreacher...Hinton
 
run from that 110v welder
run you'll hate it

220 volt or like mentioned the ready welder is a great option
for part time welding and trail work as well
and it fits in a case about the size of a screw gun.

Can you tell I have one too? it will run on 12v 24v or 36v battery power

and you have a local dealer here on the board
 
I just got the hobart 125 and i am just learning and doing little things to start with. So far i have done things like building a rack for the front of my YJ to hold 2 full size coolers and fishing poles, as well as a second rack that suspends from the rollbars for second level storage. they are nothing special and that are made of 1x1x1/8 angle but the hobart did just fine welding thick like the stock bumper of the YJ all the way to the 1/8. plus its small enough to move around with no problem. In short if you dont need to do much and are just starting out the hobart 125 is worth looking into. I have been very happy with it.
 
I started with a Lincoln WeldPak 100 MIG. Worked fine for learning, easy to use, portable 110, worked for spring perches, shock tabs, 120 wall tube, etc. When I wanted something more powerful I went with a Hobart 160 AC/DC 220v stick machine last year. I like both machines a lot but I can take the Lincoln most anywhere and hook it up to a friends power where I'm limited by the 220v requirements of the Hobart stick. If I had to have only one I'd have the Lincoln, my .02
 
Because of the way my brother can weld, I can only vouch for a Miller. I think thats always gonna be your best bet, but I think Hobarts arent too bad of a buy either.
 
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